The Richmond Castle stands tall and haughty, with an air of splendour and grandiosity of a time past. The colonial mansion itself is an extension of the man who built it, the great Arthur Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena.
Early Days of the Mudaliyar
Born to an aristocratic family in Sri Lanka, Arthur received a stellar education in the UK and was inspired to build a mansion after seeing that of his friend, the Maharaja of Raman. He was appointed the Maha Mudalali of Kalutara and he proceeded to build his dream mansion.
The Rank of Mudaliyar
A Portuguese-appointed rank, where natives of the colonised land were picked to form the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century.
The Mansion
The mansion was built in Palathota near the Kalu River and sprawled across a whopping 42 acres and 01 acre, built on the most elevated part of the land. The interior had a double-winged stairway made of teak wood leading to the lobby of the mansion. The mansion was two stories and ad 14 rooms in it, along with a dining room and a dance floor. The garden was adorned with 7 granite statues of children, and another one depicting a mother and her child, that faced the main bedroom.
Visiting this mansion is quite easy once you reach Kalutara, Sri Lanka. A hotel booking close to the castle in properties such as the famous Thaala Bentota by iconic hospitality brands like Avani Hotel and Resorts would ensure that the castle is accessible to you without resorting to a long trip.
